Hair dressing accessory for a hair dryer appliance

ABSTRACT

An accessory (9) integral with the blowing extremity (8) of a hair dryer (1). The accessory is traversed by the air blown out of the hair dryer to dry the hair. The accessory includes elements intended to be in contact with the hair, such as rigid bristles (11) or fingers (12). The accessory is composed of vibrating means (13, 14) which cause the elements (11, 12) to vibrate during hair drying.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to appliances for drying the hair.

PRIOR ART

Previously known appliances generally consist in drying hair by blowingair that is heated by means of a heater resistance.

Such appliances are often associated with removable accessories that arefixed to the blowing end of the appliance. These accessories make itpossible to dry hair while preparing it for a particular type of hairdressing, for example waving it, giving it volume, etc.

The accessories often have hair dressing elements such as fingers orstiff bristles which come into contact with locks of wet hair andfacilitate combing and separating stuck-together wet hair.

Nevertheless, the effectiveness of the drying operation depends to alarge extent on the skill of the user in handling the appliance providedwith the accessory, in particular when drying hair quickly over itsentire length or when giving hair the desired amount of volume. Inaddition, the operation of drying and dressing one's own hair is moredifficult because of the discomfort of the position of the arms.

That is why the present invention seeks to mitigate these drawbacks byproposing an appliance that facilitates and accelerates the drying ofhair and that gives volume thereto without requiring any particularaction from the user.

The invention thus seeks to provide an accessory secured to the blowingend of an appliance for drying hair, the accessory being organized topass the air expelled from the appliance for drying hair, and includingelements designed to come into contact with the hair such as fingers orstiff bristles.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention, this accessory is characterized in that itincludes vibrator means for putting said elements into vibration whiledrying hair.

The term "vibrator means" is used to cover means that impart cyclicalmotion to the elements. For example, this may be vibration of very smallamplitude, of the order of the thickness of the elements, or ofamplitude equal to several times said thickness. In addition, thefrequency of the vibration may vary over a wide range, e.g. beingvisible or invisible to the naked eye.

This vibratory motion of the fingers or of the stiff bristlesfacilitates penetration thereof into the hair and promotes unsticking ofhair that is still wet. It increases the area of exchange between theair and the hair, particularly close to the roots, thereby facilitatingand accelerating drying, giving rise to a natural bouffant hairstylewithout special action by the user.

In addition, the drying appliance can be held so as to put the elementsof the accessory into contact with the scalp by selecting blown air ofan appropriate temperature. Under such circumstances, the vibration ofthe elements is imparted to the scalp, thereby massaging it.

The accessory may be removable or non-removable.

In an advantageous version of the invention, the vibrator means comprisea part mounted to rotate on a shaft secured to a wall carrying theelements, the shaft passing through points of the part other than itscenter of gravity, means being provided for setting the part intorotation about the axis of the shaft.

The part is thus mounted on an shaft so as to be unbalanced. Duringrotation of the part, this unbalance generates vibration of the wallsupporting the shaft, which vibration is transmitted to theabove-mentioned elements. The means for setting the part into rotationmay be internal to the accessory or to the appliance and they may be ofvarious kinds.

In a preferred version of the invention, the part is a fan free torotate about the axis of the shaft and lying, at least in part, in theflow path of the blown air so as to be set into rotation thereby.

This version makes it possible to avoid providing the appliance or theaccessory with special means for setting the part into rotation. Inaddition, the elements are put into vibration during stages when theheating appliance is in operation.

The invention also provides a hair dryer appliance characterized in thatit includes an accessory of the invention as specified above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention appear furtherfrom the following description of six preferred embodiments. In theaccompanying drawings, given by way of non-limiting example:

FIG. 1 is an axial section view in elevation through a hair dryerappliance provided with an accessory constituting a first embodiment ofthe invention;

FIG. 2 is an axial section view in elevation showing a portion of thehair dryer appliance provided with an accessory of the invention, thetop and bottom halves of the figure showing second and third embodimentsof the invention, respectively;

FIGS. 3a and 3b are axial section views in elevation of a portion of ahair dryer appliance provided with an accessory constituting a fourthembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is an axial section view in elevation of a hair dryer applianceprovided with an accessory constituting a fifth embodiment of theinvention; and

FIGS. 5a and 5b are axial section views of a sixth embodimentrespectively on section lines 5a--5a, 5b--5b of FIGS. 5b and 5arespectively.

BEST METHODS OF PERFORMING THE INVENTION

In the various embodiments below, identical elements are given the samereferences.

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the invention.

The hair dryer appliance 1 comprises a handle 2 secured to the body 3 ofthe appliance.

Along the body 3 which has an axis 19, the appliance conventionallycomprises an inlet grid 4 for outside air, a fan 5 for propellingoutside air into the body 3, a motor 6 for driving the fan 5 inrotation, and a heater resistance 7 for heating the air propelled by thefan 5. The heated air is directed towards the blowing end 8 of theappliance. A control knob 17 serves to switch on the motor 6. Means forregulating the temperature of the blown air are not shown and areconventional.

The end 8 is provided with a removable accessory 9 secured thereto. Theaccessory 9 is organized to have the air expelled from the appliance 1pass therethrough for the purpose of drying hair. The general shape ofthe accessory 9 is to flare away from the blowing end 8 and its far endis defined by a wall 10. The wall 10 carries elements that are intendedto come into contact with the hair, such as fingers 12 or stiff bristles11. This configuration for an accessory is known.

According to the invention, the accessory 9 includes vibrator means forcausing the elements 11, 12 to vibrate while drying the hair.

In this case, the vibrator means comprise a part 13 rotatably mounted ona shaft 14 secured to the wall 10 carrying the elements 11, 12, meansbeing provided to cause the part 13 to rotate on the shaft 14. The shaft14 passes through points of the part 13 other than its center of gravityso that the part 13 is not balanced on the shaft 14. This configurationmay be obtained by placing the shaft 14 so that it does not pass throughthe geometrical center of the part 13, or else by causing the shaft 14to pass through the geometrical axis while fixing a load on one side ofthe part 13.

In the present example, the part 13 is a fan that is free to rotate onthe shaft 14 and that is disposed on the side of the wall 10 that facesthe body 3. The shaft 14 extends parallel to the air flow direction andis substantially centered on said flow, being in alignment with the axis19. The fan 13 thus lies on the path of the flow of blown air so as tobe set into rotation thereby. Nevertheless, the fan could occupy aportion only of said flow path in order to be set into rotation by theblown air.

The fan 13 may be made of plastics material or of metal, for example.

The wall 10 carrying the fan 13 is connected to the body 3 of theappliance by a wall 15 made of a vibration-absorbing material, e.g. anelastomer.

The wall 10 has orifices 16 through which the blown air escapes.

The device as described above operates as follows.

The user actuates the knob 17 to switch on the motor 6. The blown air isheated by the resistance 7 and reaches the end 8 that carries theaccessory 9, as shown by arrows 20.

The air propelled parallel to the shaft 14 carrying the fan 13 sets thefan into rotation. The unbalance of the fan 13 causes vibration in theshaft 14 and then in the wall 10. This vibration is transmitted to thebristles 11 and to the fingers 12 and imparts cyclical motion theretowhich is substantially orthogonal to the axis 19.

While drying the hair, a user presses the accessory 9 into the hair. Oncoming into contact with the hair, the vibrating fingers 12 and bristles11 penetrate therein and facilitate separation of the hair and dryingalong the entire length thereof. The vibrating elements 11 and 12massage the scalp when the accessory is pressed gently against the head,in which case an appropriate temperature should be selected for theheated air.

The wall 15 absorbs the vibrations coming from the wall 10 so that novibration is transmitted to the body 3 and to the handle 2.

The top half of FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of the invention.

This time, the wall 21 connecting the accessory to the body 3 is a stiffwall, e.g. of plastics material. The wall 10 carrying the fan 13 isconnected to the wall 21 via a flexible wall 22 that interconnects thewalls 10 and 21. The flexible wall 22 made of rubber or of a suitableplastics material constitutes a bellows, for example.

This device is used in the same way as the preceding device. The wall 22warps or flexes and thereby absorbs vibration of the wall 10, preventingit from being transmitted to the body 3.

The bottom half of FIG. 2 shows a third embodiment of the invention.

In this case, the flexible wall 22 is replaced by resilient dampingmeans constituted, for example, by helical springs 23 or by rods made ofa vibration-absorbing material, which means are disposed around the wall10 and connected to the wall 21. Depending on the maximum stroke of thedamper means carrying the wall 10, the wall 10 is disposed so as to befar enough away from the wall 21 to avoid striking it while it vibrates.

When the appliance 1 is in operation, the damping means 23 absorb thevibration of the wall 10 and prevent it being transmitted to the body 3.

FIGS. 3a and 3b show a fourth embodiment of the invention.

In this device, the wall 30 which carries the elements 11 and 12 and thefan 13 is a continuous flexible wall, e.g. made of elastomer. It is heldby a stiff circular frame 31 which is connected to the stiff wall 21 bya plurality of spokes 32 distributed around the frame 31. In this way,the wall 30 is connected in discontinuous manner via its edge to thewall 21 so that air can flow around said wall 30, between the frame 31and the wall 21, between the spokes 32.

FIG. 3b shows the device in operation. As in the preceding embodiments,air coming from the body 3 causes the fan 13 to rotate. Since the wallis flexible, the unbalance of the fan 13 causes the shaft 14 to rotateperceptibly about the axis 19 of the appliance and causes the wall 30 todeform so that it flexes and warps. In FIG. 3b, the slope of the shaft14 and the deformation of the wall 30 have been deliberatelyexaggerated.

This time, the elements 11 and 12 follow a path that is substantiallyconical in shape. The volume or bouffant effect imparted to the hair isincreased by this embodiment, as is the massaging effect.

In a variant of this embodiment (not shown) the flexible wall 30 hasopenings through which air passes.

FIG. 4 shows a fifth embodiment of the invention which constitutesanother variant of the preceding embodiment.

The shaft 14 of the fan 13 is extended towards the body 3 so that thefan 13 is remote from the wall 30.

The accessory includes ring-forming means that are stationary relativeto a stiff portion of the accessory, in this case the wall 21, and thatare spaced apart from the flexible wall 30 in the flow direction.

The ring made in this way has its center substantially on the same axisas the shaft 14 and has a diameter that is substantially greater thanthe diameter of said shaft and that is substantially less than thediameter of the fan 13.

In the present example, the ring-forming means comprise a slightlycurved stiff circular plate 35 extending between the fan 13 and the wall30 and fixed via its edge to the frame 31. The plate 35 has a circularopening 36 in its center through which the shaft 14 passes. The openingis considerably larger in diameter than the shaft 14.

The accessory also includes means for preventing significantdisplacement of the fan 13 in the axial direction away from thering-forming means. These means are constituted, in this case, by a ring37 having the same axis as the shaft 14, fixed to the wall 30, andextending towards the plate 35 as far as the vicinity thereof. Theinside diameter of the ring 37 is substantially greater than thediameter of the shaft 14.

When the appliance is in operation, the wall 30 deforms as in thepreceding embodiment. However, the plate 37 limits lateral displacementof the fan 13 and of the shaft 14 which comes into abutment against theedge of the opening 36.

Because of the volume it occupies, the ring 37 maintains a minimumdistance between the plate 35 and the wall 30 since, in the absence ofthe ring 37 or of analogous means, the fan 13 would tend to put the wall30 into contact with the plate 35.

In this embodiment, the configuration of the plate 35 and of the ring 37makes it possible to select the amplitude of the motion of the elements11, 12.

A sixth embodiment is shown in FIGS. 5a and 5b.

In this case, the appliance 40 is a hair dressing brush having an axis41 and that is generally cylindrical or prismatic in shape, therebymaking it possible, in particular, to dry and dress locks of hair inisolation from one another.

As in the preceding embodiments, the fan 42 driven by the motor 43propels air towards the resistance 44. The vibrator means comprise a fanwhich is constituted in this case by a bladed wheel 45 whose geometricalaxis is orthogonal to the flow direction. The fan 45 is mounted torotate about an axis 46 in such a manner as to be unbalanced about saidaxis, as in the preceding embodiments.

A deflector 47 in the shape of a circular arc fixed to the wall of theappliance directs the flow of air heated by the resistance 44 towardsthat half of the fan 45 which is situated above the axis 46 in FIG. 5aso as to cause the fan 45 to rotate.

The accessory 48 of the appliance has fingers 49 on either side of anoutlet orifice 50 for the blown air. The fingers extend in a directionorthogonal to the axis 41.

The air causes the fan 45 to rotate, thereby generating vibration in thefingers 49 as in the preceding embodiments.

A bellows 52 constitutes a vibration-absorbing membrane that preventsthe vibration from being transmitted to the portion 53 of the appliancethat comprises the handle thereof.

Naturally, numerous modifications and improvements can be applied to theinvention without going beyond the ambit thereof.

In addition, the invention relates to appliances for drying hair, but itcan also be applied to other fields. Thus, the invention mayadventurously be used for drying and dressing the coats of animals. Theterm "hair" should therefore not be restricted to human hair.

SUITABILITY FOR INDUSTRIAL APPLICATION

The industrial application of the invention lies in providing anaccessory for hair dryer appliances.

We claim:
 1. An accessory (9, 48) secured to the blowing and (8) of ahair dryer appliance (1), the accessory being organized so that the airexpelled from the hair dryer appliance passes therethrough, andincluding elements designed to come into contact with the hair, saidelements being composed of fingers (12, 49) or stiff bristles (11), theaccessory being characterized in that it includes vibrator means (13 14,45, 46) for generating vibrations and transferring the vibrations tosaid elements (11, 12) while drying hair.
 2. An accessory according toclaim 1, characterized in that said vibrator means comprise a part (13,45) mounted to rotate on a shaft (14, 46) secured to a wall (10, 30)carrying said elements (11, 12, 49), said shaft (14, 46) passing throughpoints of the part (13, 45) other than its center of gravity, meansbeing provided for setting the part (13, 45) into rotation about theaxis of the shaft (14, 46).
 3. An accessory according to claim 2,characterized in that said part is a fan (13, 45) free to rotate aboutthe axis of the shaft (14, 46) and lying, at least in part, in the flowpath of the blown air so as to be set into rotation thereby.
 4. Anaccessory according to claim 3, characterized in that the wall (10)carrying the part (13) is connected to the body (3) of the appliance bya wall (15) made of a vibration-absorbing material.
 5. An accessoryaccording to claim 2, characterized in that the wall (10) carrying thepart is connected to the remainder of the accessory by a flexible wall(22) or by resilient damper means (23).
 6. An accessory according toclaim 2, characterized in that the wall (10) carrying the part hasoutlet orifices (16) for the blown air.
 7. An accessory according toclaim 2, characterized in that the wall (30) carrying the part is aflexible wall.
 8. An accessory according to claim 7, characterized inthat the wall (30) carrying the part is connected in discontinuousmanner via its edge to a stiff portion (21) of the accessory so that theair can flow around the periphery of said wall (30).
 9. An accessoryaccording to claim 7, characterized in that it further includesring-forming means (35) that are stationary relative to a stiff portion(21) of the accessory and that are spaced apart from the flexible wall(30) in the flow direction, the ring having its center substantially onsaid axis of the shaft (14) and having a diameter that is perceptiblygreater than the diameter of said shaft and perceptibly smaller than thediameter of the part, the accessory also including means (37) forpreventing-perceptible displacement of the part (13) in its axialdirection away from the ring-forming means.
 10. In a hair dryerappliance (1) having a blowing end, the improvement comprising anaccessory (9, 48) secured to said blowing end (8) of said hair dryerappliance (1), said accessory being organized so that air expelled fromsaid hair dryer appliance passes through said accessory, said accessoryincluding elements designed to come into contact with the hair, saidelements being composed of fingers (12, 49) or stiff bristles (11), andsaid accessory further having vibrator means (13, 14, 45, 46) forgenerating vibrations and transferring the vibrations to said elementswhile drying hair.
 11. An appliance according to claim 10, wherein saidvibrator means comprise a part (13, 45) mounted to rotate on a shaft(14, 46) secured to a wall (10, 30) carrying said elements (11, 12, 49),said shaft (14, 46) passing through points of the part (13, 45) otherthan its center of gravity, and means for setting said part 13, 45) intorotation about the axis of the shaft (14, 46).
 12. An applianceaccording to claim 11, wherein said part is a fan (13, 45) free torotate about the axis of said shaft (14, 46) and lying, at least inpart, in the flow path of the blown air so as to be set into rotationthereby.
 13. An appliance according to claim 11, wherein said wall (10)carrying said part (13) is connected to said body (3) of said applianceby a wall (15) made of a vibration-absorbing material.
 14. An applianceaccording to claim 11, wherein said wall (10) carrying said part isconnected to the remainder of said accessory by a flexible wall (22) orby resilient damper means (23).
 15. An appliance according to claim 11,wherein said wall (10) carrying said part has outlet orifices (16) forthe blown air.
 16. An appliance according to claim 11, wherein said wall(30) carrying said part is a flexible wall.
 17. An appliance accordingto claim 16, wherein said wall (30) carrying said part is connected in adiscontinuous manner via its edge to a stiff portion (21) of saidaccessory so that air can flow around the periphery of said wall (30).18. An appliance according to claim 16, wherein said accessory furtherincludes ring-forming means (35) that are stationary relative to a stiffportion (21) of said accessory and that are spaced apart from saidflexible wall (30) in the flow direction, said ring having its centersubstantially on said axis of said shaft (14) and having a diameter thatis perceptibly greater than the diameter of said shaft and perceptiblysmaller than the diameter of said part (13), said accessory alsoincluding means (37) for preventing perceptible displacement of saidpart (13) in its axial direction away from said ring-forming means.